Editorial Note

On February 25, 1952, an American-French Memorandum of Understanding regarding United States financial support for the French effort in Indochina was concluded at Lisbon. The United States undertook to make purchases of military equipment for French use in Indochina in the amount of $200 million, provided France took certain measures to increase its overall military budget. This assistance was designed to enable France to meet its European defense obligations as specified by arrangements reached at the Ninth Session of the North Atlantic Council, Lisbon, February 20–25.

The Memorandum of Understanding and related material is included in documentation on the Ninth Session of the North Atlantic Council and concomitant Foreign Ministers Meetings held in Lisbon, February 20–26, 1952, in volume V. Additional documentation on this agreement is included in the compilation on relations of the United States with France in volume vi.